1 Who We Are
CallerCheck is a UK-based phone number lookup service operated by CallerCheck UK ("we", "us", "our"). We provide a free, community-driven platform that helps people identify unknown callers and protect themselves from phone scams.
For the purposes of UK data protection law, we are the data controller responsible for your personal information when you use our website and services.
2 Information We Collect
Information You Provide
When you use CallerCheck, you may provide:
- Phone number reports: The phone number you're reporting, whether it's spam or safe, the type of call, and any comments you choose to add.
- Optional display name: If you choose to add a name to your report (completely optional).
- Contact form submissions: Your name, email address, and message if you contact us directly.
Information Collected Automatically
When you visit our website, we automatically collect:
- Device information: Browser type, operating system, and device type.
- Usage data: Pages visited, time spent on pages, and how you interact with our site.
- IP address: Your internet protocol address, which may be stored temporarily for security and spam prevention.
- Referral source: How you arrived at our website (e.g., search engine, direct link).
What We Don't Collect
- ✗ Your personal phone number
- ✗ Your exact location or GPS data
- ✗ Financial or payment information
- ✗ Social media account details
- ✗ Passwords or login credentials (we don't have accounts)
3 How We Use Your Information
We use the information we collect for the following purposes:
Provide our service
Display phone number information, reports, and spam scores to users searching our database.
Prevent abuse
Detect and prevent spam submissions, abuse of our platform, and malicious activity.
Improve our service
Understand how users interact with our site to improve functionality and user experience.
Respond to enquiries
Reply to your questions, feedback, or requests when you contact us.
Legal compliance
Comply with legal obligations and respond to lawful requests from authorities.
Legal Basis for Processing (UK GDPR)
We process your information based on: legitimate interests (providing and improving our service, preventing abuse), consent (for optional cookies), and legal obligation (complying with applicable laws).
4 Cookies & Tracking
We use cookies and similar technologies to provide and improve our service. Cookies are small text files stored on your device.
Types of Cookies We Use
| Type | Purpose | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Essential | Required for the website to function (e.g., session management, CSRF protection) | Session |
| Preferences | Remember your settings and preferences | 1 year |
| Analytics | Understand how visitors use our site (anonymised) | 2 years |
Managing Cookies
You can control cookies through your browser settings. Disabling essential cookies may affect site functionality. We don't use advertising or third-party tracking cookies.
5 Data Sharing
We take your privacy seriously and limit data sharing to what's necessary:
Public reports
Reports you submit are displayed publicly to help other users. No personal information is attached unless you voluntarily add a display name.
Service providers
We use trusted third parties for hosting, analytics, and security. They process data on our behalf under strict agreements.
Legal requirements
We may disclose information if required by law, court order, or to protect our rights and safety.
We Never
- ✗ Sell your personal information to third parties
- ✗ Share data with advertisers or marketers
- ✗ Provide individual user data to number owners
- ✗ Transfer data outside the UK/EEA without adequate protection
6 Data Retention
We retain information for as long as necessary to provide our service and comply with legal obligations:
| Data Type | Retention Period |
|---|---|
| Phone number reports | Indefinitely (forms part of our public database) |
| IP addresses (for spam prevention) | 90 days |
| Contact form submissions | 2 years or until resolved |
| Analytics data | 26 months (anonymised) |
| Server logs | 30 days |
7 Your Rights
Under UK data protection law (UK GDPR), you have the following rights:
Right to Access
Request a copy of the personal data we hold about you.
Right to Rectification
Request correction of inaccurate personal data.
Right to Erasure
Request deletion of your personal data in certain circumstances.
Right to Restriction
Request we limit how we use your data.
Right to Portability
Receive your data in a structured, machine-readable format.
Right to Object
Object to processing based on legitimate interests.
To exercise any of these rights, please contact us. We will respond within one month.
Complaints
If you're unhappy with how we've handled your data, you have the right to complain to the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) at ico.org.uk or by calling 0303 123 1113.
8 Security
We implement appropriate technical and organisational measures to protect your information:
HTTPS Encryption
All data transmitted over secure connections
Secure Hosting
UK/EEA-based servers with security certifications
Regular Updates
Security patches applied promptly
Access Controls
Limited staff access to systems
While we take reasonable precautions, no internet transmission is 100% secure. We cannot guarantee absolute security.
9 Children's Privacy
CallerCheck is not intended for children under 13 years of age. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If you believe we have collected information from a child, please contact us immediately and we will take steps to delete it.
10 Changes to This Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices or legal requirements. We will post the updated policy on this page with a new "Last updated" date.
For significant changes, we may provide additional notice such as a banner on our website. We encourage you to review this policy periodically.
11 Contact Us
If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy, your personal data, or wish to exercise your rights, please contact us:
We aim to respond to all enquiries within 30 days.